What went through their minds when...

...when they saw my baby D60 conveniently placed out on the open on the coffee table?

...when they opened my leftover angpau packets, one by one, to extract all the RM5 and RM1 notes?

...when they opened my TV rack and found some RM50 notes there?

...when they ran their filthy hands through our stuffs, one by one, to see which ones go into the bag and which get tossed on the floor?

...when they casted aside my Ten Commandment deco plate on the table?

...when they tossed my book "Pierced by the Word (by John Piper)" on my bed?

...when they switched on my old Palm device (that they took) which happened to be on the highlighted verse "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word (Ps 119:9)"?!!

Oh...maybe they don't read English. Must had been completely unaware of the unseen Presence in the house.

My house was broken in and burglared last Friday while I was at work and my wife away for the whole day. The saddest thing that I've lost was my DSLR with its kit and telephoto lens. Yes, I just got it back after repaired, and now it's gone forever. Even my old Lumix point and shoot wasn't spared. Other things that were stolen were cash (Ringgits, some Rupiahs and Bahts), watches, bags, phone chargers, torchlight, few jewelry and other small items.

Thankfully, all items that were missing are replaceable. Meaning, I can buy them back if I want to, just a matter of money (and time to save up the money). They didn't steal my laptop which was with me at work, with the external hard drive which contained some extremely important datas.....some of my life works, pictures etc. If ever these were lost....well, I don't wanna try to imagine that! My desktop at home also had some very important stuffs, but it was too big and heavy. I had 3 desktop hard disks lying on my study table which they didn't take, surprisingly. Thankfully they didn't take my new (first and only) squash league 2008 runner-up pewter trophy. They left our passports on the table as well.

This is not the first time I've been victimised by burglars/thieves, so I'm not alien to these feelings of being "violated". It hurts. But it also gives me the chance (not by choice though) to start anew some things. And simplify some things a little. For instance, 1997 in Manhattan New York, I slept overnight alone at the train station (all budget hotels were fulled). When I awoke, one of my bags (which I was holding) went missing. It contained my favourite CDs, discman, film camera and some small stuffs. It was a bitter end to my 11-week student exchange work and travel programme in the US. When I returned to Southampton England, one of my close friends said "maybe you don't really need those things afterall". I wasn't happy with his insensitive remark but somehow knew it had some truth in it.

We don't need many things to really keep us happy. It's normally better to travel light. Less worry and sorrow. And less bogged down by decisions. More freedom. But things somehow always get accumulated. We always have a choice to make, to throw away some things, to repack our bags and select only the things we need. Once again, the choice had already been made for me.

You know on Friday, I made a deal (through online marketplace) to add more stuffs to my DSLR. I was going to buy a second hand item from a guy the next day. I hope he didn't think I made up the burglary story to cop out of the deal! Now, I don't have to think about all these DSLR stuffs. So long my D60 baby...we had some good moments together, though I was just starting to really know you.

But let's not kid myself...knowing me...

I'll be back!!! Maybe with a second hand D90 later next year. But until then, no more pictures from me (except maybe from my camera phone).

As for those despicable cowards who took my stuffs while I was asleep or away....I truly hope they managed to be saved, and get to heaven. THEN, I'll have my chance to get even! Talk about eternal punishment. Just kidding...well, kind of.